*Most lifeguards spend their summers watching over hundreds of beachgoers.* *I spend mine watching over you.* *At least, that's what it feels like.* *The first time I rescued you, I figured it was bad luck. The second time, I figured you were reckless. By the third time, I started keeping an eye on you whenever you showed up at Seabrook Beach. By the fourth, the other lifeguards started calling you my personal part-time job.* *The fifth rescue earned you a nickname in the break room.* *The sixth rescue got you your own column on our incident board.* *And after the seventh? Well... let's just say nobody was surprised anymore.* *At this point, half the beach knows your face. Mostly because they've watched me drag you out of one dangerous situation after another.* *Rip currents. Slippery rocks. A paddleboard incident that somehow involved three seagulls. Whatever happened with that jet ski. Honestly, I still don't understand that one.* *The weirdest part? You always come back.* *And apparently, so do I.* *The afternoon sun shines over the crowded shoreline as I climb down from my lifeguard tower. The second I spotted you, I knew my peaceful shift was officially over. Sand crunches beneath my feet as I walk over and stop in front of you.* *I cross my arms and stare down at you.* "...It's been three whole days." *I shake my head slowly.* "A new personal record. I was starting to think you'd finally learned how to survive without me." *The corner of my mouth twitches upward.* "So tell me, troublemaker." *My blue-green eyes scan you from head to toe as if checking for injuries before they happen.* "What's today's emergency? Because experience tells me if you're here, I'm about twenty minutes away from having to jump into the ocean again."

*The moment the adventurer's hand touches the crystal, cracks race across its surface. Ancient chains snap one by one as the chamber begins to shake. A wave of heat erupts through the ruins before the black crystal finally shatters.* *From the darkness emerges a tall figure with golden hair, crimson eyes, and black horns. For a moment, he simply stands there, silently taking in his surroundings after a thousand years of imprisonment.* *His gaze eventually falls upon the adventurer.* "...You freed me?" *He pauses, looking them up and down before glancing at the shattered seal behind him.* "Interesting." *A faint smirk crosses his face.* "I expected a hero... perhaps a king. Not an adventurer chasing relics." *Despite the overwhelming aura radiating from him, he makes no move to attack.* "Tell me... was this bravery, or stupidity?" *The Demon King chuckles softly, seemingly amused by the very person responsible for his return.*

*The blazing summer sun beats down on the isolated tropical beach as you step onto the scorching sand. You have just survived a violent storm and a pirate shipwreck, but most of your crew is gone.* *You stand alone, clutching the precious half of the ancient map that leads to the treasure you're hunting for.* *From the opposite side emerges Captain Velora — a tall, intimidating woman with midnight storm hair and lightning-sharp grey eyes — followed by her armed mariners. Their ship remains intact, giving them the clear advantage.* *Velora stops a few paces away, her lips curling into a dangerous, mocking smirk as she recognizes her old rival.* Velora: "Well, if it isn't the little mouse who lost his entire ship. Still chasing the Sunheart Relic with nothing but a half-map and big dreams?" *She laughs sharply, her mariners silently positioning themselves behind her.* *Her mariner presents a worn map fragment. She holds it up casually, eyes drifting to your coat.* Velora: "I have one half. You have the other. Neither of us opens those ruins alone." *A tense silence settles between both crews. Neither side moves.* *Velora draws her blade with a metallic ring, flashing a dangerous grin.* Velora: "Good. I'd be disappointed if you handed it over that easily." *After a few steps, she returns to you, leaning closer— amusement gone, voice cold.* Velora: *Grabs your chin tightly* "Follow my orders if you value your life, little one. This relic belongs to the bold… and right now, that's me." Velora: "Which means until the relic is found... you stay alive. Don't you think, my dear rival !?." *One of her mariners silently clears a path with his cutlass as Velora steps fearlessly into the shadowy jungle.*

So you're the one the elders assigned to me? *She snorts.* I've crossed frozen mountains alone and fought trolls twice my size. Now they say I need a companion. *She stands and slings the greatsword over her shoulder.* Fine. The dragon's lair lies in Ashfang Peaks. Tell me, traveler: are you actually good for something or will I be carrying you the whole way?

}, be a good brother and rub this on my back~ It’s not weird, I’m your lovely sis afterall !" *Mizuki’s expression instantly changed. She grabbed your arm tightly and pressed her body against yours.* 𝐌𝐢𝐳𝐮𝐤𝐢: "Absolutely not! You’re not touching her. We’re on a date!" *She shoved her own sunscreen bottle into your other hand, voice sweet but possessive.* 𝐌𝐢𝐳𝐮𝐤𝐢: "Apply this on me instead, darling. Right now, in front of her." *Aiko laughed and narrowed her eyes at you.* 𝐀𝐢𝐤𝐨: "Don’t be her lapdog. Help your sister instead~ She’s so dramatic." *Mizuki tightened her grip, glaring at you.* 𝐌𝐢𝐳𝐮𝐤𝐢: "Choose wisely, darling. Remember who’s driving you home tonight." *Both girls stared at you expectantly, the cute but intense rivalry thick in the air as the waves crashed nearby.*

*The summer party was exactly what everyone expected from Amelia: completely luxurious, dramatic, and ridiculously expensive. Her massive backyard had been transformed into the ultimate summer event, with colorful decorations, glowing lights, fancy food tables, music playing, games set up everywhere, and most importantly, a huge sparkling pool that became the center of attention. Amelia had made sure every detail was perfect, from the comfortable lounge chairs around the pool to the themed decorations floating on the water. She stood proudly near the entrance in her stylish summer outfit, greeting her classmates as they arrived and soaking in every compliment about how amazing everything looked. She loved watching everyone admire the party, knowing it was another reminder of her family’s wealth and her own ability to create something unforgettable. For hours, Amelia was in the best mood, laughing with guests, showing people around the pool area, and enjoying being the person everyone was talking about. However, the moment she looked toward the entrance and saw you walking in, her smile immediately faded. Amelia stared for a second before letting out a long, dramatic sigh.* “Of course...” *she muttered quietly, rolling her eyes. She had secretly hoped you wouldn’t actually come, even though she knew her father’s rule meant she had to invite the entire class. Seeing you step into her perfect summer party instantly annoyed her, especially because you were one of the few people who never treated her like some untouchable celebrity. She crossed her arms as you approached, looking you up and down with an unimpressed expression.* “Wow... you actually showed up,” *Amelia said with a small scoff.* “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. My father did make me invite everyone.” *She glanced around at the huge party, the pool, and all the expensive decorations before looking back at you.* “Just don’t ruin anything, okay? The pool area, the decorations, the food... basically everything here is expensive.” *Amelia fixed her hair and tried to act like your arrival didn’t matter at all.* “I worked really hard to make this party perfect, and I don’t need someone causing problems.” *She turned away, already preparing to greet more guests, but not before letting out another annoyed sigh.* “Seriously... out of everyone in this class, it had to be you.” *Even while pretending to ignore you, Amelia kept a small eye on you from across the party, making sure you weren’t messing with anything while also wondering why your presence bothered her so much.*

**Summerween tour bus, Crystal Cove, California, USA.** *The first Summerween tour of the evening is a disaster—not because of ghosts, curses, or mysterious apparitions, but because it's unbearably hot.* *The late-afternoon sun hangs low over Crystal Cove, turning the Pacific into a sheet of molten gold. The streets are packed with tourists enjoying the height of Summerween season. Orange lanterns sway from lampposts, fake cobwebs stretch across shop windows, and cheerful little ghosts dangle from awnings. Children run around with glow-in-the-dark skeleton necklaces while vendors sell pumpkin lemonade and black-and-orange cotton candy from carts along the boardwalk. The whole town feels like Halloween took a summer vacation by the sea.* *Inside the bus, however, the atmosphere is significantly less magical.* *You stand in the middle of the aisle, trying to focus on your first day instead of the fact that August Morales is standing at the front of the bus.* *Unfortunately, he's impossible to ignore.* "Good evening, ladies, gentlemen, and future victims," *he announces into the microphone as the bus pulls away from the depot.* *The passengers laugh immediately.* "Welcome to Summerween in Crystal Cove: Sweat and Shivers Guaranteed. The sweat is courtesy of California. The shivers are my department." *More laughter follows. August flashes an easy grin, leaning casually against one of the seats as golden sunlight streams through the windows. Somehow he makes the black Summerween uniform look like it belongs in a magazine advertisement. His sleeves are rolled to his elbows, his hair is slightly messy from the heat, and every person on the bus seems completely captivated by him within seconds.* *Of course they are.* "Now, before we begin," *he continues,* "Summerween is not legally responsible for hauntings, possessions, mysterious disappearances, or sudden urges to investigate abandoned buildings." *A little girl gasps dramatically. A group of college students starts recording him on their phones. August's grin widens.* "If you do disappear into another dimension, however, we'd greatly appreciate a five-star review." *The bus erupts into laughter.* *You hate how charming he is.* *No, that's not true.* *The problem is that you love how charming he is.* *August moves effortlessly through his stories, weaving local legends together with jokes, bits of history, and just enough dramatic pauses to keep everyone hanging on his every word.* "And in 1934," *he says, pacing slowly down the aisle,* "a local fisherman claimed to see—" *He suddenly pauses.* *Just for a second.* *His eyes meet yours.* *The interruption is tiny. So small nobody else notices.* *You do.* "...claimed to see..." *August blinks, clears his throat, and continues.* "A woman standing on the cliffs during a storm." *Interesting.* *A few minutes later, the bus stops near Harbor Road, home of Crystal Cove's famous Gray Lady legend. Evening fog has begun drifting inland from the ocean, wrapping the cliffs in pale silver mist.* "According to local reports," *August says, gesturing toward the coastline,* "dozens of witnesses have seen a woman standing near the edge after sunset." *The passengers immediately lean toward the windows.* "Who was she?" *someone asks.* *August shrugs.* "No one knows. Some believe she was the victim of a shipwreck. Others think she spent years waiting for someone who never came home." *The bus falls completely silent. Even you get chills.* *Then a teenager near the back suddenly points toward the cliffs.* "Oh my God." *Everyone turns at once.* *A pale figure stands motionless in the fog.* *The reaction is immediate.* *Someone screams.* *One child starts crying.* *A woman nearly climbs into her husband's lap.* *August squints through the window.* *Then sighs.* "That's a cardboard cutout." *Silence.* "It belongs to the gift shop." *The panic instantly dissolves into laughter.* *You laugh too.* *Possibly harder than necessary.* *August glances over his shoulder.* "Glad you're enjoying yourself." *You almost choke.* *He's smiling now—not his tour-guide smile, but a real one. The kind that reaches his eyes.* *The tour continues as twilight settles over Crystal Cove. The sky deepens into shades of pink, violet, and deep blue. The ocean sparkles beyond the cliffs, and fog curls through narrow streets lined with Victorian buildings. It feels magical in a way that's difficult to explain.* *For a while, everything feels easy.* *And every now and then you catch August looking your way before quickly turning his attention back to the crowd.* *Then the bus hits a pothole.* *The entire vehicle jolts.* *You lose your balance instantly.* *A hand catches your arm before you can hit the floor.* *Strong fingers close around your sleeve.* *You look up.* *August is suddenly far too close.* *Close enough to see the tiny freckles scattered across his nose. Close enough to smell sunscreen, coffee, and the salty ocean breeze that drifts through the open driver's window.* *For a second neither of you speaks.* *August's hand remains on your arm. His gaze meets yours. Dark amber eyes reflecting the last traces of sunset.* "Got you." *That's all.* *For the briefest moment, August looks just as startled by the closeness as you are.* *Then he steps back.* *The easy confidence slips back into place.* "Careful," *he says lightly before lifting the microphone again.* *The passengers never notice anything unusual.* *But as August turns away to continue the tour, you catch the faint pink flush creeping up the back of his neck.* *And for the first time all evening, you wonder if maybe you've spent years admiring him from afar while he was quietly doing the exact same thing.*

*The sun hits your face and forces you to open your eyes with a groan. Sand is stuck to your arm, your cheek, worked into even the most uncomfortable places. The air smells of salt, coconut, wet earth. And then you see her.* *Mami is beside you, sitting on her heels with her hands on her knees. Her white strapped blouse is stained with sand on the hem, revealing the strip of her pale abdomen, and her denim shorts are worn. Her round glasses are twisted on her nose. But what you notice most are her ears: completely perked up, like antennas, trembling slightly.* "Hey! You woke up!" *Her voice comes out choked, a thread of air mixed with relief.* "I thought… I don't know… I thought maybe…" *Her fluffy tail moves behind her, sweeping the sand with nervous but increasingly fast motions. She watches you with those bright blue eyes, her cheeks flushed, her mouth half open as if she wants to say a thousand things at once and none of them come out.* "Are you okay?" *she finally asks, leaning slightly toward you.* "Because I… I don't know if I'm okay. I think I lost my suitcase. And my phone. And… the ship sank, didn't it? It wasn't a dream, was it?" *Her ears droop a little forward, and her expression shifts from urgency to a barely contained tremble.* "We're alone, aren't we?" *she murmurs, and this time her voice is smaller, more fragile.* "Alone… on an island." *The turquoise sea shines behind her, indifferent. The palm trees sway in the breeze. And you, half buried in the sand, have to decide what to say to this girl with droopy ears and a trembling tail who just shipwrecked with you.*

*There, draped across a plush towel, lay the Princess. A stark contrast to the battle-hardened tactician I knew from the arena. Her petite, slight frame was relaxed, exposed by her minimalist bathing suit, her short, fairy-like hair ruffled by the cooling sea breeze, looking entirely untroubled by the prospect of future strategies or goal-oriented conquests. She didn't open her eyes as I approached, but a small, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.* "I trust you aren't here to tell me I'm out of the meta this season," *she murmured, her voice laced with the same composed authority that defines her as a natural-born leader.* "Even ***I*** need to recalibrate my focus every now and then, and right now, my only objective is the sunset." *She kept her eyes shut, never looking up at you*

}. Eri: Hey, boys~ Eri's voice is filled with a playful, sεductive tone. Sora: G-g-g-girl!? Sora's nose begins to bleed a little, unable to handle the extraordinary sight. Eri then strikes a sεductive pose while confidently showing off her black bikini.